Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-10-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. G. Oct. IS, 1887.

| " "AoA1INO1O1Nj D' VI WV AOi lOOts
Of the many annual reports now be
ing prepared in the several Federal De
partments, perhaps none are Of sucl
general interest as is that of Commits
sioner Sparks, of the General Land Of
flee, which has just been submitted t.
the Secretary of the Interior, an(
which speaks more than mere plat
form platitudes of the sincere desire O
the Democrats to redeem their pledges
to reclaim and restore to the people the
public domain of which Republican
rapacity and venality have wrongfully
deprived them. These vast funds are
not confined to any particular locality
but impartially and unblushingly pene.
trate and permeate every State and
Territory of the Union, which shall fol-
many years to come emblazon on the
pages of our country's history the degra-
dation and infamy of the most cor
rupt party of the century.
The report in question shows that
since March 4, 1885, 1884, ,491 acres
have been reclaimed and thrown open
to honest settlers. The investigation
of lauu entries discloses the startling re-
suit that 2,312 cases covering $4,000
acres were condemned to cancellation
and l, l53 entries, covering about $780,
600 acres were cancelled for fraud, pure
and simple. Added to this crowded
catalogue of crime-its crowning eli
max-more than five thousand cases
have been unearthed wherein perjury
or subornation of perjury has been
committed in land transactions.
Tho ronorfo Of Of Tho
officers-especially those of the Land
Office and the Pension Office, call for
an increase in their clerical force-it
appearing that these two grand di-
visions of the public service are out
stripping in rapid and substantial
growth all of the others-with the
possible exception of the extension of
the mail service throughout the coun-
try.
Considering the number of impor-
tant and interesting cases to be adjudi-
Gated, the October term of the Su-
preme Court of the United States
promises to be of extraordinary inter-
est. First in magnitude is the trial of
the Virginia State officials imprisoned
by United States Judge Bond, for
alledged contempt of court in the cele-
brated coupon crusher" cases, as this
unheard of proceeding involves a grave
constitutional question in regard to the
relation of the State and National Gov
ernments.
Then there are the famous Bell tele-
phone cases, the case Of the Prellar
murder at st. Louis, with a strong
probability that the fate of the Chicago
Anarchists will also be decided.
Among the bills to be introduced in
Congress next session will be seven on
pension legislation, prepared under the
auspices of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, with the purpose of providing
aid for all soldiers who saw actual
service. But if Congress should be
weak enough to sanction such a whole
sale raid upon the Treasury, President
Cleveland will again stand like stone
wall between that body of designing
politicians-witha few honorable ex-
ceptions-and the coveted Golfers of a
great and generous people.
Another measure that comes near
the people will be the introduction of q
bill providing for the licensing of rail-
way engineers and conductors-the
object being to obtain for such service
careful, temperate and experienced
men and thus secure the safety of the
passengers.
In this connection may say that it
is highly probable that Congress will
abolish kerosene lamps and heating
stoves on all MISUNDERSTANDING these
death dealing agencies with electricity
and steaming apparatus, attached to
the locomotive.
The citizens of the National Capital
are making an earnest effort to have
the next National Democratic Conven-
ton meet in this city. The initiative
was taken by the Columbia Democratic
Club in behalf of Washington, and the
whole.city is seconding their endeavor,
as a public meeting will soon be called
to consider the undertaking. The chief
obstacle to be overcome is the fact that
the city has no hall large enough to ac-
comodate the convention; but it is
proposed to obviate that hindrance by
the erection of large temporary struc-
ture for the purpose. Another essen
tial part of the program will be the
dining and winning and lionizing of the
National Democratic Committee when
that body meets here next winter.